The 2012 festival, which was named "Believe in the Magic," raised $12.2 million for the Naples Children and Education Foundation and pushed the total raised by the event, now in its 12th year, to more than $100 million.

"In all candor our only goal was to go over the $100 million mark," said Bob Clifford, who co-chaired the 2012 festival along with his wife, Joan. "If we hadn't done that we would have been disappointed."

"It reached every wild expectation that we had," he added.

The auction had two lots that fetched more than $1 million:

■ One lot alone raised $1.2 million. Auction guests paid for the chance to win one of 100 seats for a private concert with LeAnn Rimes in a Naples beachfront home.

■ His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxemburg, who also served as this year's honored vintner, donated a lot called Treasure Chest. It had some of the finest vintages from Haut Brion, the prince's vineyard. It went for $600,000, but the prince decided to donate a second lot, giving it to the second highest bidder for $550,000. The winner of the first lot then was given the same price.

"It's the greatest charity auction in the world,'' he said.

There were many new faces at the auction this year, including Randy Norton. The Washington, D.C., resident successfully bid $120,000 for a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

"This is a great group of people. It's been wonderful ... They do so much good. People in D.C. do nothing like this," he said.

Editor's note: A series of stories about Collier County children's charities, leading up to the Naples Winter Wine Festival dinners and auction.